---

Most Popular Domestic Cricket Tournaments In India

Most Popular Domestic Cricket Tournaments In India: Cricket is the most popular and widely watched sport in India, which was introduced by the British during their colonial period. The Oriental Cricket Club, founded by the Parsi community in Bombay, was the first cricket club in the country, and since then, the sport has gained immense popularity in India. Cricket holds a special place in the heart of Indians, as they not only enjoy international tournaments but also take a keen interest in local cricket leagues. There are several local cricket leagues in India that have gained immense popularity among cricket fans.

Furthermore, the Cricket Board of India holds the title for being the wealthiest cricket federation in the world. Despite the Indian Premier League’s major role in this transformation, it shouldn’t be overlooked that other local tournaments have also significantly contributed, particularly in improving the Indian team’s talent pool. Let’s examine all of the domestic cricket competitions in India.

---

ALSO READ: Australia Tour Of South Africa 2023 Live Streaming

---

Indian Premier League

Undoubtedly, the IPL holds the top spot as the most popular cricket league in the world. Its enormous fan following is not limited to India alone. Since its inception in 2008, after India won the first T20 World Cup, the IPL has transformed not only cricket but also the sports industry in India. Its business value is estimated at $15.4 billion. 

The IPL provides a platform for young players to learn and play alongside the most renowned cricketers from around the world. The Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are two of the most successful teams in IPL history. Dhoni-led Chennai team has secured the IPL trophy five times, while Rohit-Sharma led Mumbai Indians have also won IPL titles five times.

Ranji Trophy 

The Ranji trophy is a highly esteemed annual cricket competition in India that was established in 1935 and is contested by multiple teams and regions using a red ball. It was named after Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II, who was the first Indian to participate in international cricket. The competition currently features 38 teams, including all 28 Indian states, four of the eight union territories, and two teams representing the armed forces. Mumbai, a well-known domestic cricket powerhouse, has won the Ranji trophy 41 times. 

The tournament’s format has evolved over time, with the most recent 2021-22 season dividing teams into eight Elite groups of four teams each and a Plate group for the rest. The top seven Elite group winners advanced directly to the quarterfinals, while the Elite H group winners competed against Plate group winners in pre-quarterfinals. For the 2022-23 season, the format will revert to four Elite groups of eight teams each and a Plate group.

Deodhar Trophy

The Deodhar Trophy, which was established in 1973, was named after Dinkar Balwant Deodhar, a renowned cricketer who played for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy. During his First-Class cricket career, Deodhar scored a total of 4522 runs in 81 matches, with his highest score being 246. He is one of the rare cricketers to have played the sport before and after the World Wars, having played from 1911-12 to 1947-48.

The upcoming final of the 48th edition of the match is approaching on August 3rd, 2023, with the north zone team being the most successful team with 13 victories. The Indian cricket team often selects players from this tournament, and the BCCI closely monitors it to identify the best players for international matches.

Duleep Trophy

The Duleep Trophy, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), involves teams representing geographical zones of India, namely East Zone, Central Zone, North Zone, South Zone and West Zone. 

This tournament, named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji of Nawanagar, was first played during the 1961-62 season and West Zone emerged as the winners of the inaugural edition by defeating South Zone in the final. Since then, there have been 61 editions of this tournament. With 19 title triumphs, West Zone is the most successful team in Duleep Trophy history, followed by North Zone with 18 titles. In terms of the number of trophies won, South Zone has secured the third position with 14 victories

During the 2015-16 season, the domestic cricket competition was not held. However, it made a comeback in 2016-17 with a new format, and India Blue, India Green, and India Red were the three teams that competed for the Duleep Trophy for the next three years until the 2019-20 season. In the latest season of 2022-23, the BCCI reintroduced the zonal format with the addition of a new team – North East Zone, in addition to the original five zones. The South Zone are the current champions of the Duleep Trophy, having emerged victorious in the final by defeating West Zone by 75 runs.

Irani Cup 

The Irani Cup is a Test match that occurs every year between the current Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India team that comprises players from various Ranji teams. It was established in the 1959-60 season and named after the late Z.R.Irani, who served on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 1928 to 1970. The Irani Cup was created to mark the 25th anniversary of the Ranji Trophy championship.

The first Irani Cup took place in March 1960 at the Feroz Shah Kotla (now Arun Jaitley Stadium) in Delhi, where Bombay, the winners of the Ranji Trophy, faced off against the Rest of India. Bombay has appeared in 29 Irani Cup finals but has only won 12 of them. On the other hand, Rest of India has won the Irani Cup 24 times so far.

The most recent Irani Cup was held in February 2019, with Vidarbha defeating Rest of India in the first innings.. This year, the tournament is scheduled to take place from 1st October to 5th October 2023.

Vijay Hazare Trophy

The Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s largest 50-over domestic tournament, showcases 38 teams in the Ranji Trophy. It was named in honour of the legendary cricketer Vijay Hazare by the BCCI during the 2002-03 season. The playoffs determine the winner after the round-robin group stages. In contrast to the Ranji Trophy circuit, the Vijay Hazare Trophy competition is fiercely competitive. While Tamil Nadu has won the most titles (5), Mumbai, Karnataka, Gujarat, Saurashtra, and other teams are equally strong contenders for the championship, making it one of the most thrilling domestic tournaments.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy gained immense popularity among Indian audiences after its launch soon after the first IPL season. It is considered India’s biggest domestic T20 championship due to the participation of 38 teams from the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare trophy. One of the unique aspects of T20 cricket is its unpredictability, which is ensured in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as no team has won the title more than twice in the 15 seasons so far. The tournament also provides a great opportunity for states in India with little cricket history to showcase their talents.

Domestic Cricket Tournaments In India: Schedule

Ranji Trophy

The upcoming Ranji Trophy, considered the most prestigious domestic cricket tournament, is scheduled to commence on 5th January 2024 and will run for a duration of 70 days, culminating in the final match on 14th March of the same year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that the domestic season of 2023-24 will kick off with the Duleep Trophy, set to be played from 28th June to 16th July, 2024.

Irani Cup

India will be hosting the Irani Cup 2023, a first-class cricket tournament consisting of five matches. The event is set to start on Sunday, 1st October 2023, and conclude on Thursday, 5th October 2023.

Vijay Hazare Trophy & Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy 

The upcoming cricket season will witness the exciting Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments. The former will commence on 16th October 2023, and conclude on 6th November 2023, while the latter will be played from 23rd November 2023, to 15th December 2023. Both competitions will include 38 teams split into two groups of seven and three groups of eight.

Domestic Cricket Tournaments In India: Important Questions and Answers

About domestic cricket tournaments in India?

In India, domestic cricket tournaments are held where teams representing various regions or states compete against each other. These tournaments offer a chance for up-and-coming cricketers to exhibit their abilities and contend at a domestic level.

Major domestic cricket tournaments in India?

India hosts several major domestic cricket tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy for first-class cricket, Vijay Hazare Trophy for the 50-over format, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for T20 format, and Duleep Trophy for first-class cricket

How domestic cricket tournaments help to develop Indian cricket?

In India, the significance of domestic cricket tournaments cannot be overstated as they are instrumental in fostering and honing the skills of budding cricketers. These tournaments offer a platform for emerging talents to showcase their abilities and compete against formidable opponents, thereby paving the way for their future success at the international level.

How to follow domestic cricket in India?

Cricket enthusiasts in India have various options to keep up with domestic cricket tournaments, including live broadcasts on TV and streaming platforms, as well as radio broadcasts. Additionally, they can access match scores, player statistics, and cricket-related news through sports websites, mobile apps, and dedicated social media platforms.

Conclusion

India’s cricket scene is kept alive by several top leagues like these that are organized by the BCCI. These domestic leagues serve as a platform for selecting the best players for international matches. In fact, some of India’s most famous cricketers, including Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, and Virender Sehwag, began their careers by playing in these leagues.

For more fantasy sports news and poker promotions, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Telegram. 

---

---

More News

---

Comments